System and method for optical architecture

Abstract

In an example, a system includes a light splitter configured to reflect first light having a first wavelength and a first polarization, to transmit light having the first wavelength and a second polarization, to transmit light having a second wavelength, and to transmit light having a third wavelength. The system also includes a quarter wave plate optically coupled to the light splitter. The system includes a color wheel optically coupled to the quarter wave plate, the color wheel having a first filter segment, a second filter segment, and a third filter segment. The system also includes a phosphor optically coupled to the color wheel, the phosphor configured to produce second light responsive to receiving the first light, and the color wheel configured to receive the second light and produce light having the second wavelength or the third wavelength.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a light splitter configured to reflect first light having a first wavelength and a first polarization, to transmit light having the first wavelength and a second polarization, to transmit light having a second wavelength, and to transmit light having a third wavelength;   a quarter wave plate optically coupled to the light splitter;   a color wheel optically coupled to the quarter wave plate, the color wheel having a first filter segment, a second filter segment, and a third filter segment; and   a phosphor optically coupled to the color wheel, the phosphor configured to produce second light responsive to receiving the first light, and the color wheel configured to receive the second light and produce light having the second wavelength or the third wavelength.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the color wheel; and   one or more projection lenses optically coupled to the spatial light modulator.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a homogenizing element optically coupled to the light splitter.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a collimator optically coupled between the color wheel and the phosphor.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter segment is configured to transmit a first color, the second filter segment is configured to transmit a second color, and the third filter segment is a reflective segment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor is a yellow phosphor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor is a static phosphor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphor is a phosphor wheel, and wherein the color wheel and the phosphor wheel share a motor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the homogenizing element is a light tunnel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the homogenizing element is a fly's eye array. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a light splitter;   a color wheel optically coupled to the light splitter, the color wheel having a first filter segment, a second filter segment, and a third filter segment;   a homogenizing element optically coupled to the color wheel;   a phosphor optically coupled to the homogenizing element;   a quarter wave plate optically coupled between the light splitter and the color wheel; and   a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the light splitter.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first filter segment is configured to transmit a first color, the second filter segment is configured to transmit a second color, and the third filter segment is a reflective segment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the light splitter, the color wheel, and the phosphor are in a non-telecentric optical path. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the phosphor is a static phosphor or a phosphor wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a condenser lens optically coupled to the phosphor and the color wheel, the condenser lens configured to condense light onto the color wheel.   
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a light splitter configured to receive first light having a first color and to reflect the first light to produce reflected first light;   a homogenizing element optically coupled to the light splitter and configured to homogenize the reflected first light to produce first homogenized light;   a color wheel optically coupled to the homogenizing element, the color wheel having a first filter segment configured to reflect the first light and a second filter segment configured to transmit the first light; and   a phosphor optically coupled to the color wheel, the phosphor configured to produce second light responsive to receiving the first light, the second light having a second color, wherein the second filter segment of the color wheel is configured to filter the second light to produce third light having a third color, and the light splitter is configured to transmit the third light having the third color.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a light emitting device configured to produce the first light having the first color.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a third filter segment on the color wheel, the third filter segment configured to filter the second light to produce fourth light having a fourth color.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the phosphor, the spatial light modulator configured to modulate the first light or the third light to produce an image.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a quarter wave plate optically coupled between the light splitter and the color wheel and configured to rotate a polarization of the first light and the third light.